scott meech

I was under the impression that we needed to focus on the business aspect of the product, but I did provide details about how the lessons will be available on any mobile device, or through a web browser. Additionally the lessons will focus on the JHS curriculum, unlike any other app. This is the main differentiation, think of it as a follow the curriculum workbook (which happens to be interactive and completely digitized) for supplemental homework. There is no competition in this market, duolingo may be of a similar design, but it is not even remotely a competitor.

The app is not designed to facilitate mastery of English. It is designed to help JHS improve their test scores, we make few other claims, there is no expectation that we will change the current curriculum, which is very poor. However, there is potential to help students enjoy studying English and for the microlessons to actually improve their test scores, standardized tests which are a major component of the Japanese educational system. I tried to look for grammatical mistakes in my pitch, but did not find any... that said, I am of the philosophy that an overt focus on grammar is not beneficial to an early language learner.

I talk fast, haha. Yes, I wanted to get in as much as I could in the minute available to me. As to the 900 plus hours to develop the app, I could have an app up and running in a couple hours, it is the building the content, in the form of microlessons for this that will be the time consumer. I think that a lot of people are not seeing how easy it is to build an app these days. We used to think that website design was a difficult time consuming process, google, sites, weebly... these programs have changed that completely, and both offer platforms for app design templates as well. There are more and more of these that are vastly simplifying the "building" process, just look how many of us made websites to present out projects here...

I would love to see the research that suggests you need 10 million users for ad revenue to be "sustainable". The overall plan here is to get a cyclical turn over of students using the app each year, by having teachers, and tutoring schools suggesting students use it almost in place of homework. From my research, for every 1000 ad showings there will be 1-2 clicks, and each click equates to 10 cents. Some of my estimates might be a little high, i.e. how many of our users will be on daily, but some might be a little low, how many users will decided to go ad free.

Learning a second language is unpopular? Really?

How does it disrupt an existing business model? I would accept investment, but do not need any. I have the time and skill set to implement it myself.

Differentiate? There is nothing targeting this market, even remotely. We are going to create micro lessons that follow the curriculum that all 3.5 million students follow in jhs in Japan. I am not sure if you've used duolingo, but it is, ok but not directed at a particular group who are all looking to improve test scores. Duolingo makes no sense for a JHS in Japan, there is very little relationship between what is provided in that app and the JHS curriculum. In term of writing the app, time consuming, yes. 8 units, with 4-5 subunits to each, for which I want to create 4-5 micro lessons for each, with future iterations that focus on mistakes made by students. That will be around 200 lessons per grade. At around an hour each to design and program, 200 hours of work per grade. At about 4 hours a day I feel no reason why I will not complete the first "third grade" set of lessons in a two month period, and be ready to launch by late April, the start of the new school year.

Wow, well researched,well presented. My critical mind couldn't find any negatives... and that says a lot!

Your comment about Duolingo applying to JHS students shows that you didn't read my pitch and have never played with that app either. I stated that the design will follow the curriculum that 3.5 million students follow each year, unit by unit.

I really like your idea, first because it is the main driver behind my decision to take the MET, I had an interest in creating interactive language learning "textbooks". Nitpicks -- First, your picture on your homepage needs a better resolution, fuzzy is no professional Next, I think your elevator pitch was quite good, but it could have benefited from narration, but that is just my personal preference, not everyone's. Also, it felt much more like a sales pitch than a venture pitch, I wish you had have included more business-like information in it, how will this make me money as an investor, as cool as your product might be, show me the money... Finally, a huge nitpick on my part, but your use of "build up" should be switched with the term "scaffolding" from the Vygotsky camp of learning terms. It is a term well know in educational circles and just would give it a much more professional and knowledgeable feel. Now this is not a nitpick, it is a real concern. I felt that the Why Invest to the Revenue sections were a little light on information. I want to know what your predictions for the future are, how many clients will you get in the first year, how are you going to market it and connect with the schools, etc. If I were to have more of this investment information, I could definitely think about investing as this is a sound product that will greatly benefit language learners.